Misinformation, Social Media, Polarization & Democracy: An Interview with Dr. Samantha Bradshaw

In this episode, Dustyn Lanz speaks with disinformation expert Dr. Samantha Bradshaw discuss the complex relationship between social media, misinformation, and democracy. They explore how misinformation spreads, the differences between misinformation and disinformation, and the role of identity politics and "influencers" in shaping narratives and amplifying misinformation. The conversation also touches on the implications of social media design for polarization, the potential for extremism, and the recent changes in content moderation by platforms like Meta. Despite the negative trends, Dr. Bradshaw highlights hopeful trends in decentralization and the importance of local news in fostering informed public discourse.